Types of Car Seats

Infant Only Seats

Children should be in a rear facing car seat until they are 12 months old and 20 pounds. Infant only seats can be used rear facing for children weighing up to 20-22 pounds, although a few can accommodate a child until he is 25-35 pounds. Features of infant only seats can include a detachable base and either a 3 point or 5 point harness.

Convertible Seats

These seats are used rear facing until an infant is 22 to 35 pounds (although newborns may not fit as well as they do in an infant seat), and then convert to a forward facing seat until a child is about 40 pounds. They may have either a 5 point harness, T-shield or overhead shield.

Forward Facing/Combination Seats

Forward facing seats are used for children who are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. A combination seat can also be used as a forward facing seat (but never rear facing), and can convert into a belt-positioning booster seat for child who weigh more than 40 pounds.

Booster Seats

A booster seat can be used once your child outgrows his forward facing seat, either by passing the weight requirements or if his ears have gone over the top of the seat. The two types of booster seats include belt-positioning boosters (preferred) and shield boosters (use of shields not recommended by the AAP). Use a booster until your child is ready for regular seat belts when he is about 80 pounds.